By ANTONELLA ARTUSO -- Sun Media
2007-09-28
Canoe.ca CNews
Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory says he's not in favour of two-tier government -- whether it be in health care, justice or religious school funding.
Tory laid out his vision for Ontario in a crucial speech yesterday before a crowd of movers and shakers at a combined luncheon of the Canadian Club and the Empire Club of Canada.
He acknowledged his religious schools policy has caused much controversy. In his speech, Tory also touched on two other PC policies that have generated debate: Permitting more private health clinics provided patients pay with OHIP cards and ending "illegal occupations" such as the Native protest on a housing site in Caledonia.
"As premier, I would stand up for the rule of law," he said. "Just as I reject two-tier medicine and two-tier religious school funding, I also reject two-tier justice."
Tory vowed to provide good public services by ensuring a strong economy through measures such as reducing business red tape.
The Liberals immediately dubbed the PC leader "John NegaTory" for his view that the province's economy is not performing as well as it should.
And Premier Dalton McGuinty said yesterday that Tory wasn't ready to play in the big leagues of provincial politics.
"He is constantly sort of trying to diminish what I have done as a person and whether I am ready or not to take on these responsibilities," Tory replied. "I would match my record of leadership and actual proven results against his any day of the week and twice on Sunday."
On tonight's six o'clock news, Global TV will air an interview with Tory in which the Conservative leader weeps while describing a serious illness his wife Barbara faced in the 1990s. Tory is overcome with emotion and can't speak for a moment.
The Conservative leader also showed a softer side of himself as he talked about his desire to help the poor.
Earlier in the day, Tory went to Freedom International Brokers in Toronto to announce that the first phase of his promised rollback of the Liberal health tax would apply to workers who make less than $30,000, as of Jan. 1.
"That will remove an unconscionable $300 burden from a million Ontario taxpayers with very modest incomes," Tory said.
Tory was quizzed about his party's election platform costing, which includes $1.5 billion in unspecified efficiencies.
"This is something that will be achievable as a target," Tory said. "I wouldn't have said it if I didn't think it could be done and done in a way that it actually ends up improving services for people."